Erm, uh, oomzeebaba?

yes, play an mmo game Tz.
Newbie, coupled with the need for shorter typing lengths became shortened to noob or n00b, probably back to 4chan I would assume.

Coupled that with the popularity of the internet being a place where stupid people could congregate freely and without consequence, internet sensations or "memes" became common place. i.e., in a game video of Warcraft III, one of the developers who had just schooled his opponent wanted to type "ownd" (developing out of a game called Counterstrike where an opponent demolished you)... but he mistyped the word as "pwnd". You will now see at least 75% of people typing "pwnd" instead of "ownd". Sometimes they'll even add the 'e' for "pwned".

Anyways, in mmo games (well, all internet PVP games), newbies became a class or cast of player unto themselves entirely. They mess up group fights constantly with their ineptitude and likewise attracted much hate from their more experienced counterparts for "wasting their time". It then became an insult to call someone a noob. Keep in mind the internet is still a place for stupid people to congregate, and they take it as an insult as in their minds, they are the ultimate game playing bad@ss. Ego, or "penor" is huge on the internet. Even that can be used as an insult <enter sarcasm> "Dude, your p3nor is so big" </end sarcasm>

But I wouldn't say the insult is derived in the misspelling, as that's more in line of the need for typing speed on the internet chat boards / game chat.

Thanks for the elucidation JohnG. Um, I think?

I'm sorry urst, internet l33t knowledge can only make you dumber, I apologize again.

I know my daughter would know what you are talking about. I only grasped half of it. But I'm older. I probably won't care. :-)

Nope I don't look at it as condescending.

Everyone starts somewhere and beginner levels have always had a name

novice, fledgling, greenhorn, tenderfoot

I know the armed forces have a few for new recruits as well. I think its just a part of life and once you earn your stripes you aren't a beginner anymore.

I am sure there are those that use it to condescend or act better than .. but there are a multitude of words people can use to do that

I don't believe that is the original intent of the word.

i voted perhaps, go perhaps!

As JohnG said, it's a gamers term - and definitely intended to be insulting.

Also, I am ninja

Yep. "noob" is a put-down. On most of the forums I frequent (usually automotive related), "noob" being used in reference to someone else is a definate insult. "Newbie" is just a sign of "rank", if you will, but "noob" is the modern version of "rube"...

These are Hoobs.



Does that help?

it really could go either way. depends on how uptight the noob is =]

Newbie: new to the game, but learning

Noob: New to the game, but not learning.

n00b: New to the game, but trying their hardest to ruin it.

tZ, where have you been?

Everyone knows that on the web, inferiority is the new superiority.

And amateur, the new professional. (except for the pay part)

And as for politics: the greener the running mate....

Those are adorable. I've never met a Hoob before.

I use noob, but I often call myself a noob when I'm new to something. I figure if I use it to describe myself, then it's ok to use on other people.